Pro football legend Junior Seau was found dead at Southern California home on Wednesday. His girlfriend found him unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest, according to reports. He was 43 years old.
Seau was a six-time NFL All Pro and made 12-straight Pro Bowls. He led his hometown San Diego Chargers to a Super Bowl appearance in 1995, and starred in college at the University of Southern California. His death is being investigated as a possible suicide, according to reports.
Immediately after news of Seau's death broke, tributes, sadness, anger and frustration poured out on Twitter. Current players marked his greatness. Former players shared memories. Fans offered condolences. Reporters shared photos, videos and news accounts.
And many tweeters debated the role a career of high-impact collisions and resulting potential head trauma may have played in Seau's death, especially if he did indeed take his own life. Click through the gallery above to see a sample of the conversation.
Perhaps the most touching tribute of all came from Eric Olsen, an offensive lineman for the New Orleans Saints. Olsen posted a series of tweets recounting a memory of how Seau inspired him to pursue a football career when he was a high school freshman. The stream was linked by many fans and reporters, and is embedded below:
Wow this is a tough one.. When I was a frosh in HS Junior Seau worked the Jay Fiedler Football camp and at the end of one of the days he...— Eric Olsen (@EOlsen69) May 2, 2012
Challenged any1 to a 1 on 1. Being one of the 'big' kids, I was volunteered by my buddies and went up in front of the whole camp to face...— Eric Olsen (@EOlsen69) May 2, 2012
This monster of a man. Shaking in my cleats, he gave me a wink before a coach gave the cadence. He let me pancake him. And he sold it too...— Eric Olsen (@EOlsen69) May 2, 2012
I can't even tell you how good I felt at that moment; it changed me forever. The whole camp cheered for me, a chubby kid that didn't know...— Eric Olsen (@EOlsen69) May 2, 2012
If he even liked football. From then on I was addicted. All thanks 2 this 10 time all-pro that felt like making some snot-nosed kid's day...— Eric Olsen (@EOlsen69) May 2, 2012
Doesn't seem like much but it meant a lot to me. Sorry for the essay just had to share. RIP Junior I'll never forget what you did for me.— Eric Olsen (@EOlsen69) May 2, 2012
Did you follow reaction to Junior Seau's death on Twitter? Who and which reactions struck you most? Let us know in the comments.